Honda Skydeck Concept

The Skydeck makes the current Odyssey minivan look downright dowdy.

As far as future minivans go, the Honda Skydeck Concept makes the current Odyssey look downright dowdy. Designed to haul six people in comfort, the Skydeck has a large sloping greenhouse and blacked-out pillars that give it a racier look than the traditional box on wheels.

Complementing the rakish good looks is the long nose with a prominent grille flanked by horizontal headlamps. The body has crisp character lines that add tension to the lower portions of the shape.

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While it is a one-box people mover in function, the Skydeck Concept is stylish thanks to its unusual scissor-style doors for the front passengers. The rear cabin is accessed through traditional sliding doors; however the combination of the B-pillarless design and the ability of the side doors to drop down and away from the vehicle as they move rearward makes entry and egress a breeze.

The interior is best described as high-tech elegant. Simple shapes flow from front to rear, while the three rows of seats, with their thin backs and open mesh design, contribute to the open, airy feeling of the cabin. Adding to this effect is the larger windshield that extends into the roof, giving tremendous outward visibility. The Skydeck features a modular approach to seating, with the second row seats able to stack beneath the front buckets for limousine-style seating. The third row can be easily folded flat to greatly increase the Skydeck's cargo capacity.

Beneath the hood of the Skydeck concept is a hybrid powerplant with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist that boosts both power and fuel economy.